Next Xbox console to ditch disc drive, but Microsoft has a solution for physical copy fans - Media

Microsoft may be working on a new system codenamed Positron, which would allow owners of physical game copies to obtain digital licenses. While the information remains at the rumor level and project details are extremely limited, the idea itself fits well with the presumed strategy for the next generation of Xbox.

Microsoft's future console, codenamed Xbox Helix, will likely be an entirely digital device without a built-in disc drive. Sources claim that the system will be closer to modern PCs and laptops, where physical media has practically disappeared. Against this backdrop, Positron could become a kind of "bridge" for users who have accumulated a large library of games on discs over the years.

It is assumed that Positron could operate under several scenarios. One option is to convert a disc license into a digital one with subsequent deactivation of the physical copy to prevent widespread distribution of a single license. Another option is to use an external USB Blu-ray drive: the system could read the disc and temporarily provide digital access for disc-less devices, such as the Xbox Series S or the future Xbox Helix.

It is important to note that Microsoft considered a similar concept back in the Xbox One era. In 2012–2013, the company planned a system where a buyer of a disc version would also receive a digital license. However, at the time, the idea caused a negative reaction from players due to concerns about reselling and sharing games with friends.

The industry is gradually moving away from physical media. Sony previously reported that about 85% of game sales in the PlayStation ecosystem are in digital format, and for Microsoft, this figure is presumably even higher. Under such conditions, the abandonment of the disc drive in the PlayStation 6 and the next-generation Xbox seems quite likely.